Racist attack on south Belfast home condemned

A Pakistani family have become the latest ethnic minority family to be targeted in south Belfast last night.

The family were in their Donegall Road home when a six-foot wooden plank was thrown through the front window at around 11pm.

A man and his heavily pregnant sister-in-law were left uninjured but badly shocked in the incident.

It is reported that the family had only moved into the house a few hours previously.

South Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey said he feared someone would be killed if the ongoing campaign against ethnic minority communities in the area wasn't stopped.

Mr Maskey said: "In recent times there has been a series of very vicious attacks against members of various ethnic minority communities in south Belfast. In the main these have taken place in the Village/Donegal Road area.

"These are not isolated incidents, they are part of a campaign of violence and intimidation aimed at driving ethnic minority communities out of these areas.

" This campaign has to stop. If it does not then I have a real fear that someone will be killed."

Local Ulster Unionist MLA Michael McGimpsey also condemned the attack, he said: “This is a despicable incident and those responsible are evil in the extreme.

“There is growing concern at the number of attacks of this nature in South Belfast although it should be remembered that the vast majority of people live in harmony with each other.

“It is sickening that there is still a tiny minority intent on causing fear and anguish to residents who are from differing backgrounds."

The Chairman of Belfast City Council’s Good Relations Steering Panel, Councillor Tom Ekin, which was set up to promote respect, tolerance and equality, condemned the incident.

He said: “We deplore racism and strongly condemn racist attacks and abuse. These only demonstrate how much work needs to be done to change attitudes in our society. The Council is keen to support any practical efforts to resolve this problem”.

(MB)